DailyDirt: Stupiditry From Job Seekers

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Some mistakes are hard to avoid completely. Typos are usually forgivable, even when they result in some terrible misunderstandings. But job applicants are told time and time again that typos are horrendous errors, and anyone applying for a job should be especially careful about eliminating spelling mistakes and typing errors. However, focusing too much on simple errors could allow some much bigger mistakes to slide by. Here are just a few examples.

Antartican?

I'll mention something that won't get you hired, directly from experience in which I chose not to consider someone who did this:

Don't email the person who is hiring and state that you submitted an application during the previous round of hiring and was extremely surprised that you didn't get an interview because you're clearly going to be more qualified for the position than any other applicant.

Also (and from the same applicant), don't send 5 emails with one file attachment each and claim that you're tech savvy. I also don't need scanned images of all of your certifications that have no bearing on the qualifications for the position. Sometimes more is just more and just annoying, not impressive.

Lets face it for most people, there are always exceptions, the more technical competent a person is the more socially incompetent they are.

Based on that for a technical competent person the best approach is to be as traditional (in the since of doing the things that have historically worked in getting technical jobs) as possible. Do not experiment. Do not change the procedure. If you do most likely you will loose.

For the traditional US resume.

Top of the page Name and contact information.

Followed by a statement of what you are and what you do. No more than 3 or 4 lines.

Follow this with 2 to 4 rows of 2 or 3 bullets per line. Mo more than 12 bullets total.

Next comes experience in either a functional or chronicle order.

No more than 2 pages. If the prospective employer wants 30 pages in a vita they will ask for it.

If you are applying for a job in government there are special government application procedures which change with the government, fed., state, local, et. Do not use normal industrial procedure as the hiring thought pattern is completely different.

Military and covert is another world. If you do not know what that means you are not socially qualified for the job. Technically maybe but the culture is radically different from civilian.

Technical people will loose if they try gimmicks. Do not do it.

Before sending e-mails consider the receiving person is not interest in a reason for not being able to do something story or any other form of excuse for incompetence or non performance no matter how good or true the story is.

Keep it professional and if you do not know what that means watch old 1930s and 40 movies or some of the old 1950s and 1960s TV programs. We are not discussing ethics that is another level of professionalism but how one acts and presents them self.

If you have trouble with speaking join Toastmasters. Some locations are very good - Down Town Chicago Clubs. Some locations are horrible. Many places are lacking this resource.

Re: Headhunter's blathering

You certainly have made quite a few communication errors here. It's difficult to take seriously advice from someone who uses such poor spelling and grammar. You misspelled or misused: lose, let's, interested, since, downtown, technically-competent, résumé, himself, and chronological, among others.

Beyond these simple errors, which stand out like a sore thumb, your advice is certainly not unique or new to anyone who has ever hunted for a job. What is unique is your reasoning, but I assure you that does not mean it is sound.

Tell us, would you consider Stephen Hawking socially incompetent? How about Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson? He is quite technically-competent but also charismatic and engaging. Trotting out that old canard that nerds, geeks, and other technology savvy people are socially incompetent---and slipping in that weasel phrase "for most people"---will win you no respect, clients, or business.